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Online Gallery | Horological Books | Books by Subject | Barometers/Scientific Instruments

Last updated 16 July 2010

Orders totalling £100 or more will receive an automatic 10% discount at the checkout.

Baddeley (J.): Nautical Antiques and Collectables
NEW. 160 pages, illustrated, 1993. A good introduction to ship models, navigation instruments, ship fixtures and fittings, marine arts and crafts, ship portraits and ocean liner artefacts. The book also has chapters on caring for marine collectables and a guide to maritime collections open to the public. With dust jacket. (Ref: N519)
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Price: £35.00

Banfield (E.): Antique Barometers: An Illustrated Survey
NEW. 149 pages, illustrated, 2nd edition, 2008. A new enlarged edition which is a comprehensive introduction to the English domestic barometer. Card covers. (Ref: N19)
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Price: £9.95

Banfield (E.): Barometer Makers and Retailers 1660 - 1900
NEW. 246 pages, a few illustrations, 2000. A very useful listing of barometer makers and reailers. Also useful for dating Victorian clocks and scientific instruments sold by the same retailers after 1850. Soft covers. (Ref: N20)
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Price: £9.95

Banfield (E.): Barometers - Aneroid and Barographs
NEW. 151 pages, 130 illus., reprinted 1996. The history of domestic, marine and mountain barometers, barographs, storm glasses, and weather houses. With dust jacket. (Ref: N21)
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Price: £11.95

Banfield (E.): Barometers - Stick or Cistern Tube
NEW. 246 pages, 296 illus. First published 1985, reprinted 1996. The history and development of the stick barometer including domestic marine, station, Fitzroy and angle barometers. With dust jacket. (Ref: N22)
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Price: £14.95

Banfield (E.): Barometers - Wheel or Banjo
NEW. 150 pages, 165 illustrations, 1985 reprinted 1999. The history and development of wheel barometers from 1663 to about 1900. With dust jacket. (Ref: N23)
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Price: £11.95

Banfield (E.): The Banfield Family Collection of Barometers
NEW. 9 pages of text, 313 photographs, 14 pages of descriptions. A well illustrated survey of a large collection of barometers and barographs of all types. Each item is described and an estimate of date given. Card covers. (Ref: N426)
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Price: £6.95

Banfield (E.): The Italian Influence on English Barometers from 1780
NEW. 160 pages, 193 illustrations, 1993. A detailed investigation on the origins and background of the early Italian migrant barometer makers, with chapters on important makers including Negretti & Zambra. Soft covers. (Ref: N427)
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Price: £7.95

Baptiste (G.) et a: De Tijdmeting in Belgische Verzamelingen
O/P. 322 pages, illustrated, 1984. A good catalogue of an exhibition held in Brussels in 1984 describing and illustrating 448 astrolabes, sundials, pocket watches and clocks in Belgian collections. Card covers, spine creased and faded. [Flemish language] (Ref: K1991)
Price: £10.00

Baptiste (G.) et al: La Mesure du Temps dans les Collections Belges
O/P. 322 pages, illustrated, 1984. A good catalogue of an exhibition held in Brussels in 1984 describing and illustrating 448 astrolabes, sundials, pocket watches and clocks in Belgian collections. Card covers, spine creased, faded and worn. [French language] (Ref: K1992)
Price: £10.00

Bauer (B.): The Sextant Handbook - Adjustment, Repair, Use and History
NEW. 189 pages, figures, 2nd edition, 1995. Written for the mariner, this book is also of use to scientific instrument enthusiasts as it has a brief history of the sextant followed by details of how to use and adjust it. Paperback. (Ref: N2163)
Price: £12.99

Bennett (J.): Sphæra Mundi - Astronomy Books 1478 - 1600
O/P. 148 pages, 180 figures, 1994. The catalogue of an exhibition of 93 early astronomy books at the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge held in 1994. The books included works on the astrolabe, sundials and astronomical rings as well as books by Oronce Fine. A good copy, card covers. (Ref: K1993)
Price: £20.00

Bholanath (L.): A Handbook of Maharajah Jaisingh's Astronomical Observatory, Dehli
O/P. 16 pages, 4 plates, no date. A concise handbook explaining Jai Singh's famous observatory. Card covers. (Ref: K2149)
Price: £3.00

Bion (M.): The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments
NEW. 325 pages, 30 plates, 2nd edition, 1995. A facsimile reprint of the English edition of Bion's famous work, translated and supplemented by Edmund Stone and originally published in 1758. An excellent book for researching slide rules, drawing instruments, surveying instruments, telescopes, microscopes, sun dials and more. A good quality reprint, nicely cloth bound, with gilt lettering and tooling to spine. (Ref: N1796)
Price: £39.50

Bobinger (M.): Alt-Augsburger Kompassmacher - Sonnen-, Mond- und Sternuhren Astronomische und mathematische Geräte Räderuhren
O/P. 448 pages, illustrated, 1966. An excellent, book on the Augsburg instrument makers with full details of the makers themselves, and their instruments. This book, the best on the subject, is now very hard to find. A very good copy, the dust jacket very worn. [German language]

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(Ref: K1994)
Price: £175.00

Chapiro, Meslin-Perrier & Turner : Orologi E Strumenti di Precisione dal 1500 alla metà '600
O/P. 128 pages, illustrated, 1991. A catalogue of the 93 clocks and scientific instruments at the Musée national de la Renaissance, Château d'Ecouen. Excellent descriptions and illustrations of some fine, and early, watches, clocks, sundials, astrolabes, and other instruments. Larger format and on even better quality paper than the French version published 2 years earlier. A fine copy with very good and original slipcase. [Italian language] (Ref: K1997)
Price: £50.00

Chapiro, Meslin-Perrier & Turner: Horlogerie et Instruments de précision du début du XV1 siecle au milieu du XV11 siecle
O/P. 141 pages, illustrated, 1989. A catalogue of the 93 clocks and scientific instruments at the Musée national de la Renaissance, Château d'Ecouen. Excellent descriptions and illustrations of some fine, and early, watches, clocks, sundials, astrolabes, and other instruments. A very good copy with very good dust jacket. [French language] (Ref: K1998)
Price: £50.00

Chapman (A.): Astronomical Instruments and their Users: Tycho Brahe to Wiliam Lassell
NEW. xii + 320 pages, figures, 1996. A collection of 17 learned papers reprinted from various scientific journals making the information available to all. Several of the papers investigate the accuracy of scale graduations on the instruments, others discuss their use. As well as Brahe and Lassell there are papers on George Graham, Jesse Ramsden, John Herschel, George Biddell Airy, Jeremiah Horrocks and others. (Ref: N2063)
Price: £70.00

[Christie's]: Time Measuring Instruments from the Time Museum
O/P. 107 pages plus index, 1988. The catalogue of 161 instruments from the Time Museum Collection sold by Christie's in London in April 1988. The instruments included some good astrolabes and sundials. A very good copy, hardback. [Sale @ South Kensington, London 14/04/1988] (Ref: K1999)
Price: £20.00

Cleempoel (K.van): Astrolabes at Greenwich

Cleempoel (K.van) - Editor: Astrolabes at Greenwich - A Catalogue of the Astrolabes in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
NEW. 339 pages, 16 colour plates, about 200 b&w illustrations, 2005. A comprehensive catalogue of all the astrolabes in the collecton of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Greenwich has an excellent collection of astrolabes, this is a major reference work on the subject. With dust jacket and slip case. (Ref: N1823)
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Price: £95.00

Clifton (G.): Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550 - 1851
NEW. 331 pages, published 1995, reprinted 1996. A well researched listing of instrument makers including makers of clocks, barometers and sundials. This is an essential reference book as it is the most accurate source for data on the makers' working addresses, dates, apprentices, partnerships, etc. I find it the best reference book for chronometer makers and retailers, barometer makers and sundial makers. Only clockmakers who made scientific instruments are listed, but this includes more names than you might expect. With dust jacket. (Ref: N582)
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Price: £65.00

Collins (P.R.): Aneroid Barometers and Their Restoration
NEW. 212 pages, illus., 1998. A very comprehensive book on pocket and wall mounted aneroid barometers from their beginnings in 1844 to the late 20th century. The book includes information on the Bourdon and Vidi designs as well as altimeter and surveying variants. With dust jacket. (Ref: N79)
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Price: £18.95

Collins (P.R.): Barographs
NEW. 146 pages, well illustrated in b&w, 2002. An excellent book illustrating the development of mercury and aneroid barographs from their origins until today. The book is very useful for dating barographs and also has a chapter on their maintenance. Card covers. (Ref: N428)
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Price: £9.95

Collins (P.R.): Bizarre Barometers and Other Unusual Weather Forecasters
NEW. 103 pages, illustrated, 2004. A fascinating collection of strange weather instruments including the weather glass, the shark oil barometer, the weather house, the Tempest Prognosticator, the use of frogs, and many, many more!! Card covers. (Ref: N429)
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Price: £7.95

Collins (P.R.): Care and Restoration of Barometers
NEW. 116 pages, illustrated, first published 1990, reprinted 1999. A useful book on the repair and restoration of wheel or banjo barometers from dismantling, through to the refilling of the tube with mercury. The book also gives advice on the handling and maintenance of barometers. Written by an experienced restorer. Card covers. (Ref: N430)
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Price: £6.95

Collins (P.R.): FitzRoy and his Barometers
NEW. 144 pages, illustrated, 2007. An interesting new book about Robert FitzRoy, Captain of HMS Beagle during the famous voyage with Charles Darwin, and in later life a passionate advocate of the use of the barometer to reduce fatalities at sea. The book concentrates on FitzRoy's contribution to meteorology and the barometer which bears his name. Card covers. (Ref: N1497)
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Price: £9.95

Cooke (T. & Sons): On the Adjustment and Testing of Telescopic Objectives
NEW. 49 pages, 29 figures, 1980. First published in 1891 this is a reprint of a useful, and scarce, booklet by the famous firm of scientific instruments makers Thomas Cooke & Sons of York. Card covers. (Ref: N1322)
Price: £5.00

Cotter (C.H.): A History of the Navigator's Sextant
NEW. 226 pages, illustrated, 1983. This excellent book opens with chapters on the seaman's quadrant, the mariner's astrolabe, the cross staff, shadow staffs and reflecting instruments before the sextant. The sextant is studied in detail including developments for coastal navigation and surveying, artificial horizons and sextants for air navigation. With dust jacket. (Ref: N2278)
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Price: £20.00

Davis (J.) & Lowne (M.): The Double Horizontal Dial and associated instruments
NEW. 241 pages, 394 illustrations, 2010. A good, detailed study of the double horizontal sundial devised by William Oughtred. The book reproduces some of the early literature on this type of dial, including Oughtred's original description of 1636, then discusses the development of the instruments and their design. Other sections deal with 17th & 18th century double horizontal dial makers and their dials; and the design and manufacture of modern dials. The book also has a catalogue of all known instruments using the horizontal stereographic projection. Card covers. (Ref: N2298)
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Price: £29.50

Drake (S.): Galileo Galilei Operations of the Geometric and Military Compass
O/P. 95 pages, illus., 1978. This is an English translation, with introduction, of Galileo's first publication printed in 1606. Galileo developed the sector (Galileo's "compass") into a useful calculation instrument sufficiently accurate to solve military problems associated with fortification and artillery as well as problems of proportion. A fine copy. Card covers. (Ref: K1966)
Price: £8.50

Forbes, Meadows & Howse: Greenwich Observatory (3 volume set)
O/P. Vol 1: Forbes (E.G.): Origins and early History (1675 - 1835). 204 pages, 14 figs, 1975.
Vol 2: Meadows (A.J.): Recent History (1836 - 1975). 135 pages, 14 figs., 1975.
Vol 3: Howse (D.): The Buildings and Instruments. 178 pages, 130 figs., 1975.
Published to commemorate the tercentenary of the founding of Greenwich Observatory in 1675 this is an excellent work on its history, buildings and astronomical instruments. All 3 volumes are in fine condition, the original film wrappers now a little torn with some loss.

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(Ref: K1970)
Price: £275.00

Glasemann (R.): Erde, Sonne, Mond & Sterne
O/P. 166 pages, illustrated, 1999. A catalogue of the 96 globes, sundials, astronomical and other scientific instruments in the Historischen Museum, Frankfurt am Main. A fine copy, card covers. [German language] (Ref: K2002)
Price: £15.00

Guye (S.) & Michel (H.) : Time & Space - Measuring Instruments from the 15th to the 19th Century
O/P. 289 pages, 295 illustrations, 1st English language edition, 1971. An interesting book charting the development of clocks, watches, chronometers and navigational instruments. A good copy with worn dust jacket. (Ref: K2003)
Price: £15.00

Kaye (G.R.): The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh
O/P. 151 pages, 26 plates, 67 figs., folding map, reprinted 1982. Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur was born in 1686 and died in 1734. This book originally written in 1918 is an archaeological record of the observatories Jai Singh built in India together with illustrations and descriptions of the known metal and masonry instruments (mainly astrolabes and dials). A good copy with one bruised corner, card covers. (Ref: K1975)
Price: £65.00

Keil (I.): Augustanus Opticus - Johann Wiesel (1583-1662) und 200 Jahre optisches Handwerk in Augsburg
O/P. 549 pages, 52 plates, 2000. Wiesel was one of the first instrument makers in Germany to make telescopes, microscopes and other optical instruments which he sold all over Europe including England. Wiesel was succeeded by Daniel Depiere; the latters widow married Cosmus Cuno another optical instrument maker. A very detailed study of Augsburg and its optical craftsmen. A very good copy. [German language with an English summary] (Ref: K2074)
Price: £40.00

King (H.C.): Geared to the Stars, the Evolution of Planetariums, Orreries & Astronomical Clocks
O/P. 442 pages, well illustrated, 1978. An excellent book, that is always in demand by clock enthusiasts, with a wealth of information worthy of careful study. A good copy with good dust jacket, the latter faded on spine and with wear to corners.

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(Ref: K801)
Price: £350.00

Layton (C. & E.): C. & E. Layton's Improved Arithmometer, formerly known as Tate's Arithmometer ....
NEW. 16 pages, 1 illustration, 1989. A reprint of a very scarce instruction manual (originally published circa 1890) for the English version of Thomas de Colmar's successful mechanical calculator. Paper covers. (Ref: N1323)
Price: £5.00

Lester (E.R.): John Kalabergo of Banbury
O/P. 99 pages + 32 page facsimile Banbury directory for 1851, 1975. John Kalabergo was born in Italy and settled in Banbury making and selling barometers and repairing and selling clocks. In 1851 Kalabergo's nephew, William Kalabergo, arrived from Italy to work for him, but within 3 months John was dead - murdered by his nephew. William Kalabergo was the last person to be publicly hanged at Oxford. A very good copy, card covers a little creased. (Ref: K2206)
Price: £15.00

McConnell (A.): Instrument Makers to the World - A History of Cooke, Troughton & Simms
NEW. 116 pages, illustrated, 1992. An excellent book about the history of Thomas Cooke & Sons of York and Troughton & Simms of London. The firms merged in 1922 and were eventually absorbed by Vickers Instruments Ltd. Thomas Cooke & Sons made turret clocks and several regulators as well as all kinds of optical instruments. Troughton, later Troughton & Simms, were one of the leading instrument makers of the 19th century. Soft covers. (Ref: N398)
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Price: £16.00

McConnell (A.): Jesse Ramsden (1735 - 1800) London's Leading Scientific Instrument Maker
NEW. 318 pages, illustrated, 2007. An excellent biography about the life and work of Jesse Ramsden who made scientific instruments for the major European observatories as well as private clients. This is a detailed account of the scientific instrument trade, in London, in the second half of the eighteenth century. The book also has a chapter on Ramsden's successors - Matthew Berge, James Allen and Nathaniel Worthington. With dust jacket. (Ref: N1517)
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Price: £65.00

Mennim (E.): Transit Circle: The Story of William Simms 1793 - 1860
NEW. 303 pages, illus., no date. A biography of William Simms senior who entered into partnership with Edward Troughton in 1826. Troughton & Simms made all kinds of scientific instruments but are best remembered for their optical instruments which were sold to observatories around the world. Soft covers. (Ref: N399)
Price: £9.50

Middleton (W.E.K.): A History of the Thermometer and its Uses in Meteorology
NEW. 249 pages, figures, originally published in 1966 this is the recent paperback reprint. An interesting work on thermometers and thermometer scales and also a learned tome for weather buffs. Paperback. (Ref: N1801)
Price: £25.00

Middleton (W.E.K.): The History of the Barometer
NEW. 489 pages, lots of figures, the 1994 reprint of a book first published in 1964. This is an excellent detailed account of the barometer from its invention by Torricelli in the 1640's and all the improvements made up to about 1950. Mercury barometers and barographs are studied in detail, as is the development of aneroid mechanisms. The appendix describes the more important barometers studied by the author in museums and institutions around the world. With dust jacket. (Ref: N435)
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Price: £24.95

Millburn (J.R.): Adams of Fleet Street - Instrument Makers to King George III
NEW. 420 pages, illustrated, 2000. An excellent study of the scientific instrument business founded by George Adams in 1734 and continued by his sons George junior and Dudley until 1817. Adams made some of the finest instruments of the 18th century and wrote several technical books. This book reproduces several catalogues by Adams and has a detailed list of publications by the family. With dust jacket. (Ref: N1373)
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Price: £70.00

Millburn (J.R.): Wheelwright of the Heavens - The Life and Work of James Ferguson, FRS
NEW. 328 pages, 59 figs, 1988. James Ferguson is an interesting 18th century character who designed clocks with astronomical and tidal dials, designed and made orreries and globes and wrote books on astronomy, mechanics, horology and electricity. Ferguson also lectured on 'popular science' in the mid-Georgian period. With dust jacket. (Ref: N1240)
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Price: £30.00

Moe (H.): The Story of the Microscope
NEW. 256 pages, well illustrated in colour and b&w, first English language edition, 2004. An excellent book on the history of the microscope over the last 400 years, with good descriptions of the component parts and how they were used. This is a high quality publication written by a practising microscopist and illustrated with photographs of microscopes in the Medical Historical Museum, Copenhagen. With dust jacket. (Ref: N1929)
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Price: £75.00

Morrison (J.E.): The Astrolabe
NEW. 438 pages, illustrated, 2007. The Astrolabe is a complete treatise on the astrolabe and includes the description, history, use, theory and design of all types of astrolabes and several related devices. The book is not about specific historical instruments but covers the principles and design details of each instrument type as well as the application of computers to astrolabe design and practical advice on making an inexpensive working astrolabe. Card covers. (Ref: N2277)
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Price: £45.00

Morrison-Low (A.D.): Making Scientific Instruments in the Industrial Revolution
NEW. 408 pages, illustrated, 2007. A well researched new book looking at the growth of scientific instrument making in London and the English provincial centres (principally Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield) from the start of the Industrial Revolution to the Great Exhibition in 1851. The book has an excellent bibliography for further reading and a detailed listing of scientific instrument makers in the 5 provincial cities mentioned above. With dust jacket. (Ref: N1374)
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Price: £65.00

Mörzer Bruyns (W.F.J.) & Dunn (R.): Sextants at Greenwich

Mörzer Bruyns (W.F.J.M.) & Dunn (R.): Sextants at Greenwich
NEW. A Catalogue of the Mariner's Quadrants, Mariner's Astrolabes, Cross-staffs, Backstaffs, Octants, Sextants, Quintants, Reflecting Circles and Artificial Horizons in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
323 pages, 694 photos (22 in colour), 76 figs., 2009. The first section of the book gives a general overview of the history of celestial navigation with an emphasis on the instruments that were developed and used for that purpose, between about 1450 and the 1970's. The second part of the book is a catalogue of the 347 instruments in the National Maritime Museum collection. With dust jacket and slipcase. A companion volume to Sundials at Greenwich and Astrolabes at Greenwich, which we also stock.

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(Ref: N1932)
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Price: £120.00

Negretti & Zambra: A Treatise on Meteorological Instruments
NEW. 176 pages, reprint of a book first published in 1864. A detailed work describing the principles and construction of barometers, hygrometers, rain guages, anemometers, ozonometers and other meteorological instruments. Paperback. (Ref: N224)
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Price: £7.95

Raistrick (A.): Quakers in Science and Industry
NEW. 361 pages, illus., 1993. A reprint of a book first published in 1950 and still in demand. The book charts the origin and rise of Quakers as citizens and businessmen in the United Kingdom with chapters on Ironmasters, Merchants, Miners, Clockmakers, Doctors, Botanists and Bankers. The clock chapter includes information about Thomas Tompion, George Graham and Daniel Quare. Soft covers. (Ref: N400)
Price: £10.00

Sharma (V.N.): Sawai Jai Singh and his Astronomy
O/P. 347 pages, illustrated, 1995. Jai Singh built 4 monumental observatories in India in the early 18th century. The large masonry instruments include the world's largest equinoctial sundial; another instrument is the world's largest brass astrolabe - over 2 metres in diameter. With dust jacket, binding slightly loose. (Ref: K2011)
Price: £15.00

Stephenson, Bolt & Friedman : The Universe Unveiled - Instruments and Images through History
O/P. 152 pages, illustrated, 2000. A book documenting the human desire to explore and understand our world and the instruments developed for that purpose. The photographs are all of items in the collection of the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Chicago. A very good copy, with very good dust jacket. (Ref: K1988)
Price: £16.00

Stimson (A.N.) & Daniel (C.StJ.H.): The Cross Staff Historical Development and Modern Use
NEW. 26 pages, 7 figs, 1977. A useful history of the cross staff, reprinting instructions for its use first written by Andrew Wakeley circa 1650. The modern use of the instrument, using a replica staff, on the 1974 Golden Hinde voyage from Plymouth to San Francisco is also documented. Card covers (Ref: N1324)
Price: £5.00

Takacs (K.): Compass Chronicles
NEW. 176 pages, 507 illustrations most in colour, 2010. A guide to the wide range of pocket magnetic compasses made between the late 1700's and the 1940's with special emphasis on those from the mid 19th century onwards. The book includes a history of the development of the compass and its use, with details of the compasses, their cases and country of origin. With dust jacket. (Ref: N2246)
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Price: £32.50

Tomba (T.) & Brusa (G.): Museo D'Arti Applicate: Strumenti Scientifici-Orologi
O/P. 163 pages, 65 instrument plates and 110 horology plates, 1983. A catalogue of some fine scientific instruments, sundials and clocks in the Museo D'Arti Applicate, Milan. A good copy, the dust jacket good but with one small tear. [Italian language] (Ref: K2013)
Price: £18.00

Turner (G. L'E.): Collecting Microscopes
O/P. 120 pages, illustrated, 1981. This is a very useful and good introduction to a fascinating subject, covering British and European microscopes from the early 17th century to the late 19th century. A good copy with dust jacket. (Ref: K416)
Price: £32.00

Turner (G.L'E): Elizabethan Instrument Makers
NEW. 305 pages, well illustrated, 2000. The book covers the origins of the London trade in precision instrument making from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, and describes over 100 surviving Elizabethan instruments including those by Humfrey Cole and Elias Allen. Such instruments were crucial to the professions of navigation, surveying, fortification and gunnery and established London as the centre of precision instrument making for two centuries. With dust jacket. (Ref: N1305)
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Price: £95.00

Zinner (E.): Deutsche und Niederländische Astronomische Instrumente des 11 .- 18. Jahrhunderts
O/P. 689 pages, 80 plates, 2nd edition, reprinted 1979. German and Dutch scientific instruments from the 11th to the 18th century including astrolabes, sundials, clocks and mechanical globes. The second half of the book is devoted to biographical details of the instrument makers. Binding a bit loose. [German language]

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(Ref: K2026)
Price: £135.00

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